MCAT Physical : Physical Chemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Physical

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Example Questions

Example Question #191 : Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, And Other Concepts

What conditions best favor the gaseous state?

Possible Answers:

High temperature and low pressure

Low temperature and high pressure

High temperature and high pressure

Low temperature and low pressure

Correct answer:

High temperature and low pressure

Explanation:

Low pressure ensures that the molecules are not confined to a more organized state such as liquid or solid, while high temperature means higher kinetic energy, which means that the molecules have more energy to move away from one another and into the gaseous state. Low temperature would mean molecules have less energy to move away from one another, and high pressure will force molecules to be in a more organized state. 

Example Question #4 : States Of Matter

Raining is an example of what type of phase change? 

Possible Answers:

Sublimation

Condensation

Deposition

Evaporation

Correct answer:

Condensation

Explanation:

Raining occurs when water vapors become liquid water in the sky. Deposition is the phase change from gas to solid, sublimation is the phase change form solid to gas, and evaporation is the phase change from liquid to gas.

Example Question #31 : Phase Changes

What is the phase change at the contact point between an ice hockey player's skate and the ice?

Possible Answers:

Condensation

Deposition

Evaporation

Melting

Correct answer:

Melting

Explanation:

Melting occurs because the skates apply pressure to the ice. Due to the negative slope of solid-liquid equilibrium line for water, increased pressure results in a change from solid to liquid. None of the other answer choices do not have to do with the equilibrium between solid and liquid.

Example Question #2 : States Of Matter

Which of the following describes the concept of sweating?

Possible Answers:

Sweating results in increased body temperature because evaporation is endothermic

Sweating results in a decreased body temperature because evaporation is endothermic

Sweating results in decreased body temperature because evaporation is exothermic

Sweating results in increased body temperature because evaporation is exothermic

Correct answer:

Sweating results in a decreased body temperature because evaporation is endothermic

Explanation:

Sweating reduces skin temperature because the sweat that is secreted to the skin evaporates, which is an endothermic process. Thus, heat is absorbed from the body and skin to drive the evaporation of the sweat on the skin.

Example Question #1 : Other Thermodynamic Principles

Which of the following is not related to bond dissociation energy?

Possible Answers:

Energy stored in nonpolar covalent bonds

Energy stored in polar covalent bonds

Energy stored in coordinate covalent bonds

Energy stored in ionic bonds

Energy stored in hydrogen bonds

Correct answer:

Energy stored in hydrogen bonds

Explanation:

Bond dissociation energy is the energy associated with a bond within a molecule. This means that bond dissociation energy is measured for intramolecular bonds. All covalent and ionic bonds are considered intramolecular bonds, and are generally quite permanent. Ionic bonds and polar covalent bonds can help develop dipoles in a molecule, which later facilitate intermolecular interactions.

Hydrogen bonds are intermolecular bonds, which do not have associated bond dissociation energies because these type of bonds are temporary, and are formed between different molecules.

Example Question #2 : Other Thermodynamic Principles

A specific element is kept in two separate containers. The samples are both heated by the same amount of heat, but the element in container 1 experiences a greater temperature change than the element in container 2.

Which of the following could NOT be an explanation for this difference in temperature change?

Possible Answers:

The element in container 2 released more heat to the surroundings.

The element in container 1 has more mass than the element in container 2.

Element 1 is in a fixed container, while element 2's container expanded when the compound was heated.

The elements are in different phases.

Correct answer:

The element in container 1 has more mass than the element in container 2.

Explanation:

If there was more mass (in grams) of the element in container 1 than there was in container 2, we would expect container 1 to undergo a smaller temperature change compared to container 2. This is justified by the equation , where m is the mass.

Rewritten as , we can see that a larger mass would result in a smaller temperature change. Remember that q is held constant between the two containers.

If element 2 expelled some of its energy to the surroundings in the form of work (expanding the container), it could explain why it had a smaller temperature change. In addition, different phases of an element have different specific heat capacities. This can also explain the difference in temperature between the two element samples.

Example Question #181 : Physical Chemistry

A burning tree in a forest causes another tree that is twenty inches away to also start burning, without touching it. How is the heat being transferred from the burning tree to the other?

Possible Answers:

Conduction

The heat transfer does not come from the burning tree

Convection

Radiation

Transduction

Correct answer:

Convection

Explanation:

Convection describes heat transfer through a fluid medium, such as a gas or liquid. In this case, the burning tree transfers heat to the air, which transfers the heat to the other tree.

Conduction requires direct contact, which would occur if a burning tree fell into another tree. Radiation is the electromagnetic transfer of heat, such as the sun's heat that travels to Earth, and does not require matter to transfer. Transduction is not a mechanism for heat transfer.

Example Question #1 : Oxidation Reduction In Electrochemistry

Imagine a galvanic cell that uses solid zinc and aqueous iron ions to produce a voltage.

 

    

     

Based on the above reaction, which of the following statements is correct?

Possible Answers:

 is oxidized at the anode, and  is reduced at the cathode

 is reduced at the cathode, and  is oxidized at the anode

 is oxidized at the cathode, and  is reduced at the anode

is reduced at the cathode, and is oxidized at the anode

 is reduced at the anode, and  is oxidized at the cathode

Correct answer:

 is oxidized at the anode, and  is reduced at the cathode

Explanation:

For the MCAT, remember "ANOX REDCAT." This will remind you that oxidation occurs at the anode, and reduction occurs at the cathode.

Since solid zinc (Zn) is giving up two electrons in the reaction, it is being oxidized. The iron ion (Fe2+) is accepting the two electrons, so it is being reduced.

Example Question #2 : Oxidation Reduction In Electrochemistry

Which of the following is false about anodes and cathodes?

     I. In a galvanic cell only, reduction occurs at the anode whereas oxidation occurs at the cathode

     II. Electron flows from anode to cathode in both galvanic and electrolytic cells

     III. Cathodes are only found in galvanic cells

Possible Answers:

I and III

II and III

I, II, and III

III

Correct answer:

I and III

Explanation:

An electrochemical cell undergoes two half-cell reactions (one oxidation reaction and one reduction reaction). Each half-cell reaction occurs either in a cathode or an anode; therefore, an electrochemical cell always has a cathode and an anode. Recall that there are two types of electrochemical cells: a galvanic cell and an electrolytic cell. Regardless of the type of the electrochemical cell, the reduction half-cell reaction always occurs in the cathode and the oxidation half-cell reaction always occurs in the anode; therefore, both galvanic and electrolytic cells have reduction occurring in the cathode and oxidation occurring in the anode. 

In both galvanic and electrolytic cells, electrons flow from the anode to the cathode. Anodes have free electrons because electrons are products of an oxidation reaction whereas cathodes require electrons because electrons are reactants of a reduction reaction; therefore, the free electrons flow from the anode to the cathode where they are used up in the reduction reaction. 

Cathodes are found in both galvanic and electrolytic cells. Recall the cathodes are the site of reduction half-reaction and anodes are the site of oxidation half-reaction.

Example Question #1 : Oxidation Reduction In Electrochemistry

Electrons are __________ in cathodes and __________ in anodes.

Possible Answers:

products . . . reactants

products . . . products

reactants . . . products

reactants . . . reactants

Correct answer:

reactants . . . products

Explanation:

The cathode is the site of reduction half-reaction, whereas the anode is the site of the oxidation half-reaction. In a reduction reaction molecules acquire electrons, whereas in an oxidation reaction molecules lose electrons. Electrons act as reactants during reduction reactions in the cathode, whereas they serve as products during oxidation reactions in the anode.

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